Drawbolt assembly



Nov. 11, 1958 w. E. ATKINSON 2,859,995

DRAWBOLT ASSEMBLY Filed April 18, 1957 /5 wgxgamw ATTORNEYS United St es Patent DRAWBOLT ASSEMBLY Wallace E. Atkinson, Petershurg, Va., assignor to Long Manufacturing Company, Inc., Petersburg, Va., a corporation of Virginia Application April 18, .1957, Serial No. 653,609

3 Claims. (Cl. 292-114) The present invention relates in general to latch :assemblies, and more particularly to drawbolt assemblies of the type adapted for fastening cooperating edge portions of separable parts of a container such as hard side suitcases and the like.

Among the many types of latch mechanisms employed in connection with hard side luggage, one of the more popular varieties is the type commonly referred to in the trade as the drawbolt assembly. This type consists essentially of a catch member, usually termed drawbolt, which is connected by a toggle linkage with a mounting bracket aflixed to one of the relatively movable sections of the lug-gage, usually the receptacle or tray section. One end of the drawbolt is provided with a hook formation at one end thereof adapted to be brought into interlocked relation with a projecting tongue of a keeper afiixed to the other relatively movable section of the luggage to draw the keeper and its associated luggage section, usually the lid, into intimately closed relation with the tray section. The arrangement of the toggle linkage is such that the drawbolt .is drawn beyond the position of dead center when closed into latching position to form a secure fastening for the luggage sections.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a drawbolt latching assembly for hardside luggage and the like having a simplified construction which facilitates the assembly of parts to minimize the production cost thereof through savings in quantity of material required and labor costs in connection with assembly.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a drawbolt latching assembly for hardside luggage and the like having a novel construction for retaining the components of the assembly in proper relative location to each other.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel drawbolt latching assembly for hardside luggage and the like which is formed of sheet metal components assembled and retained in assembled relation in a novel manner.

Other objects, advantages .and capabilities of the present invention become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing illustrating one preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drawbolt latching assembly embodying the present invention, shown in latched relation on a fragmentary suitcase wall section;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section view of the drawbolt latch assembly taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section view of the drawbolt latching assembly taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section view taken along the vertical transverse plane 4-4 of Figure 3, with parts shown in completely assembled relation; and,

- Figure 5 is a section view taken along the vertical transverse section plane from which Figure 4 was taken, but illustrating the parts at an intermediate stage in the assembly of the device.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, the drawbolt latching assembly of the present invention, illustrated generally by the reference character 10, comprises a keeper 11 adapted to be fixed to the separable part 12, for example the lid, of a suitcase, and a latching unit 13 adapted to be mounted on the other separable part 14, for example the tray section, of the suitcase. The keeper 11 is formed entirely of sheet metal and includes a base 15 having a hook-shaped keeper tongue 16 stamped therefrom and rising upwardly from the plane of the base 15 near the end of the keeper disposed remote from the plane of separation of the separable suitcase parts. An alignment tongue 17 is formed in the central region of the edge of the keeper 11 adjacent the plane of separation of the suitcase parts, the alignment tongue 17 being in the shape of a spherical sector that projects substantially beyond the plane of separation of the suitcase parts. The keeper 11, in accordance with conventional practice, is affixed to the separable section 12 of the suitcase by rivets or other conventional securing means.

The latching unit 13 is formed entirely of sheet metal parts and comprises a mounting bracket IShaving a base panel 19 which is affixed to the adjacent wall of the suitcase tray portion 14 by rivets or other suitable securing means. The end of the base panel 19 adjacent the plane of separation of the suitcase sections is provided with an upwardly projecting flange 20 extending in a plane perpendicnlar to the plane of the base panel 19 and having a semicircular opening 21 therein for reception of the alignment tongue 17 projecting from the keeper 11. Also projecting from this end of the mounting bracket 18 in alignment with the center of the flange 20 is a downwardly projecting locator lug 22 adapted to properly locate the mounting bracket 13 relative to the plane of separation of the separable suitcase parts 12, 14. A pair of ears 23 integral with the base panel 19 rise in substantial paral lelism with each other from the lateral edges of the base panel 1), the cars 23 being located near the end flange 29 and having laterally aligned apertures 24 therein.

A toggle link or swinging link 25 which is stamped from sheet metal is provided at one end thereof with a pair of laterally projecting integral horns or trunnions 26 which are adapted to be received in the apertures 24 of the cars 23 and define the hinge axis for this end of the toggle link 25. These trunnions 26 will be hereinafter designated the lower trunnions. Spaced substantially from these lower trunnions 26 and located intermediate the ends of the toggle link 25 are a second pair of transversely aligned laterally projecting horns or trunnions 27, which will hereinafter be designated the upper trunnions. It will be noted upon inspection of Figures 3, 4 and 5 that the upper trunnions 27 project for a much greater distance fro-m the adjacent edges of the toggle link 25 than the lower trunnions 26. The swinging or upper end of the toggle link 25 is provided with a rectangular recess 28 which is flanked by a pair of laterally spaced ears 29 projecting longitudinally of the toggle link 25 which serve as stops limiting pivoting of the drawbolt 30 about the axis of the upper trunnions 27 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2.

The drawbolt 30 is shaped in the form of a downwardly opening shell and includes an integral top 31 and sides 32 bounding the longitudinal edges thereof having apertures 33 therein for reception of the upper trunnions 27. An inwardly projecting lip 34 projects from the end of the drawbolt shell 30 adjacent the keeper 11 to be drawn under the end of the keeper tongue 16 when the drawbolt is manipulated to closed position asillustrated iniFigure 2, and an in-turned lip 35 is formed on the opposite end of the drawbolt shell. A leaf spring 36 is nested within the drawbolt shell 30 to cooperate with the drawbolt and toggle link 25 during manipulation of the latching unit, and comprises an upper leg 37 and a lower leg 38 formed by bending the leaf spring 36 about an mtermedlate transverse axis thereof as indicated by the bight 39. The upper leg 37 of the leaf spring 36 is designed to be centrally located transversely of the shell by means of a. channel 40 embossed in the top 31 of the shell and to project between the top 31 and in-turned lip 35 of the shell. The lower leg 38 of the leaf spring extends between the ears 29 of the toggle link 25 and bears against the base of the rectangular recess 28 at the --upper edge of the toggle link, the leg 38 terminating in appreciable amount of lateral play of the mounting bracket, 18 and toggle link 25 within the drawbolt shell 30,

which amount of lateral play is greater than the distance either one of the trunnions27 project beyond the planes of the ears 23 or of the ends of the trunnions 26.

By virtue of this construction, it is not necessary that the latching unit be assembled in the usual manner where- -in the mounting bracket and toggle link or similar components are formed and assembled together, and then the blank for the drawbolt shell is bent into position on the toggle link with the sides of the shell positioned closely adjacent to the sides of the link to maintain the link centered within the shell. Rather, by the present construction the mounting bracket and tog le link may be stamped of sheet material and the ears 23 bent upwardly to seat the lower trunnions 26 in the apertures 24 thereof to form the bracket and toggle link subassembly. This subassembly may then be assembled with a completely preformed drawbolt shell 30 by inserting one of the trunnions 27 into an aperture 33 in one of the shell sides 32 and shifting the bracket and toggle link subassembly laterally to a position similar to that illustrated in Figure wherein the other trunnion 27 clears the inner surface of the opposite shell side 33 whereby the trunnions 27 may both be axially aligned with the apertures 33 and then the mounting bracket and toggle link subassembly centered laterally between the shell sides 32. The leaf spring 36 may then be inserted between the recess 28 of the toggle link and the surfaces of the channel 40 in the top 31 of the drawbolt shell to assume the position illustrated in Figure 2. The leaf spring 36 not only serves to bias the toggle link 25 toward closed and opened positions when the toggle link is passed through dead center, but also resiliently maintains the mounting bracket and toggle link subassembly properly centered laterally within the drawbolt shell 30 due to the flanking relation of the ears 29 with the sides to the leaf spring leg and the maintenance of the leaf spring 36 centered within the drawbolt shell by the channel 40. 7

While only one preferred embodiment of the inven- .tion has been particularly shown and described, it is apparent that other modifications may be made in the in- -vention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and are set forth in the appended claims. I claim: 1. A drawbolt assembly for fastening cooperating edge portions of separable parts of receptacles comprising a keeper adapted to be mounted on one of said parts, a mounting bracket adapted to be aflixed to the other of 4 said parts, a swinging link of sheet metal, means pivotally mounting said swinging link on said mounting bracket for movement about a first transverse axis, said swinging link having a pair of transversely aligned integral trunnions projecting from opposite edges thereof along a second axis spaced from and paralleling said first axis, said trunnions projecting laterally beyond the other parts of said mounting bracket and swinging link, a sheet metal drawbolt member formed into a downwardly opening shell having an integral top and depending sides, catch means on said drawbolt member to interlock said drawbolt member with said keeper, said sides having transversely aligned apertures therein to receive and pivotally support said trunnions when said swinging link is centered transversely of said drawbolt member and pivotally intercouple said drawbolt member with said swinging link about said second axis, the spacing between said sides being intermediate the spacing between the outermost ends of said trunnions and said other parts of said mounting bracket and swinging link to afford suflicient lateral play of the swinging link between said sides when a trunnion is disposed in its associated aperture to permit the other trunnion to be disposed wholly inwardly of its associated drawbolt side, a leaf spring interposed between an edge of said swinging link and said drawbolt top forming the means for holding said drawbolt member and said swinging link in assembled relation with said trunnions seated in the apertures therefor, means on said swinging link coacting with said leaf spring to restrain said leaf spring and said swinging link against relative lateral displacement, and said drawbolt top including means for restraining said leaf spring in laterally centered position transversely of said drawbolt member against said drawbolt top and in substantially longitudinal align- .ment with the centered medial longitudinal axis of said drawbolt top to restrain said drawbolt member and swinging link against relative lateral displacement which would decouple them.

2. A toggle-type latch assembly for fastening cooperating edge portions of separable parts of receptacles comprising a keeper adapted to be mounted on one of said parts, a mounting bracket including a plate portion adapt- :ed to be affixed to the other of said parts and having a pair of parallel ears projecting from the opposite lateral edges of said plate portion in substantially perpendicular relation thereto, said ears having aligned apertures therein, a swinging link of sheet metal having first and second pairs of trunnions projecting from opposite edges of the link and aligned with spaced parallel axes, said first pair of trunnions being shorter than said second pair of trunnions and adapted to be received in said ear apertures to assemble said swinging link and said mounting bracket into a'pivotally intercoupled subassembly, a sheet metal drawbolt member formed into a downwardly opening shell having an integral top and depending sides and ends, catch means on said drawbolt member to interlock said drawbolt member with said keeper, said sides having transversely aligned apertures therein to receive and pivotally support said second pair of trunnions when said swinging link is centered transversely of said drawbolt member for pivotally intercoupling said drawbolt member with said swinging link, the spacing between said sidesv being intermediate the spacing of the outer- .most ends of said first and second trunnions and of a distance to afford sufficient lateral play of said subassem-' bly between said sides when one of said second trunnions is disposed in its associated aperture to permit the link and the top of said drawbolt member for restrainingsaid drawbolt member and said subassembly in assembled relation with said second pair of trunnions seated in the apertures therefor and for biasing said drawbolt member toward raised and loweredlimit positions relative to said subassembly, abutment means on said swinging link embracing the lateral margins of said leaf spring therebetween to restrain said spring and swinging link against relative lateral displacement, and the top of said drawbolt member including means for restraining said leaf spring in transversely centered position against said top in substantially longitudinal alignment with the medial longitudinal axis of said top whereby said leaf spring resiliently restrains said drawbolt member and swinging link against relative lateral displacement which would decouple them.

3. A drawbolt assembly for use with luggage of the type having hinged separable sections and the like comprising an elongated drawbolt member of sheet metal to be associated with one of said sections shaped to form a downwardly opening housing having a top and depending sides and ends, a keeper interlocking lip formed on one end of said drawbolt member, a keeper having a plate adapted to be secured to the other of said sections and having a keeper tongue projecting from said plate to be engaged by said lip and coact therewith to lock said sections in closed relation by movement of said drawbolt member from a raised position to a depressed position relative to its associated section, a mounting bracket having an elongated plate portion adapted to be afiixed to said one section and a pair of integral ears projecting upwardly from the opposite lateral edges of said plate portion, said ears each having an aperture therein aligned with a transverse axis of said bracket, a toggle link of sheet metal having a body portion of substantially rectangular outline having a first laterally aligned pair of integral trunnions projecting from opposite lateral edges of said link adjacent one end thereof and a second laterally aligned pair of trunnions projecting a greater distance from said opposite edges in spaced parallelism with said first trunnions, said first trunnions being journalled in said ear apertures to pivotally support said toggle link for adjustment about a fixed axis extending through said ears, said drawbolt sides having a laterally aligned pair of apertures therein to receive and pivotally support said second trunnions when said toggle link is centered transversely of said drawbolt member for pivotally intercoupling said drawbolt member and toggle link about a displaceable axis paralleling said fixed axis, the spacing between said drawbolt sides being intermediate the spacing of the outermost ends of said first and second trunnions and of sufi'icient distance to accommodate positioning of one of said second trunnions inwardly of its associated drawbolt side when the other of said second trunnions is in its associated aperture, an elongated leaf spring for resiliently restraining said drawbolt member and said toggle link in assembled relation with said second trunnions seated in the apertures therefor, said spring bearing against the top of said drawbolt member and having a leg portion bearing on an edge of said toggle link remote from said first trunnions, said toggle link having ears projecting therefrom in flanking relation to said leaf spring leg portion to restrain said leaf spring and link against relative lateral displacement, and said drawbolt top having an elongated channel recess therein to receive a portion of said leaf spring and hold the latter against lateral displacement from centered position within said drawbolt member in substantially longitudinal alignment with the medial longitudinal axis of said drawbolt top.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,122,211 Mann Dec. 22, 1914 2,560,827 Segesman July 17, 1951 2,602,685 Martinet et a1. July 8, 1952 2,690,921 Braun Oct. 5, 1954 2,829,912 Koch Apr. 8, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 694,307 France Dec. 2, 1930 841,930 France June 1, 1939 

